Full FAA Chronology at this link.
19470403: CAA began in service testing of GCA (ground controlled approach) radar systems at Washington National and Chicago Municipal Airports. This modified radar precision landing equipment had been developed for military use, loaned to CAA by the Army Air Forces, and installed by the Airborne Instrument Laboratory of the Air Transport Association. New York’s La Guardia Airport received similar equipment later in the year. (See December 31, 1945, and April 9, 1947.)
Another operational service test, started about the same time at Washington National Airport, involved a microwave early-warning radar (MEW), one of the best long-range sets developed during the war. A joint CAA/Army Air Forces undertaking, this test aimed at developing effective means of coordinating MEW data and information from ATC flight progress boards.
19700403: Under a rule effective this date, FAA would not approve Federal-aid airport program (FAAP) projects involving the displacement and relocation of people until adequate replacement housing was provided for (by construction, if necessary) and offered to all affected persons.
19970403: Unofficial reports began circulating that the Clinton Administration would nominate Acting Highway Administrator Jane Garvey for the post of FAA Administrator and George Donohue, currently FAA associate administrator for research and acquisitions, as her deputy. (See June 11, 1997.)
20020403: FAA announced it had issued space launch licenses to two U.S. launch vehicles, the Lockheed Martin Atlas V and the Boeing Delta IV rockets. Both were scheduled to fly before the end of the year, each carrying commercial satellite payloads. The new vehicles were highly advanced models of the Atlas and Delta vehicles which had served as the workhorses of U.S. government and commercial launches for many years. (See February 9, 2001; April 1, 2004.)
20060403: FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) exchanged their final contract proposals. April 6, FAA declared that, as it had reached an impasse with the controllers union after nine months of contract talks, only congressional action could prevent the agency from imposing its latest contract offer without union agreement. April 25, FAA officially ended contract negotiations with NATCA. June 5, FAA announced it would begin imposing its preferred contract terms on the controller work force. Under existing statutory rulings, the agency could impose its contract terms if Congress failed to overturn the agency’s proposal within a 60-day window. FAA had sent its contract proposal to Congress in April and the deadline for congressional action was June 4. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said that, although the previous contract was officially terminated as of the previous day before, the work and pay rules of that contract would remain in effect while the new rules were phased in. She also commented in a letter to employees that this transition process could take several months. (See November 28, 2005; August 2007.)
20070403: FAA announced completion of Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) deployment with the installation at the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center. ATOP was already deployed at FAA centers in Ronkonkoma, New York, and Oakland, California, providing air traffic service over the Atlantic and Pacific regions respectively. This technology enabled controllers to separate aircraft in areas outside radar coverage or direct radio communication, such as over oceans. It also detected conflicts between aircraft and provided satellite data link communication and position information to air traffic controllers. (See June 23, 2005.)
20140403: FAA began using “climb via” phraseology for route transitions and/or the assignment of RNAV standard instrument departure (SID) procedures containing speed and altitude restrictions. These new and revised air traffic procedures were the result of a collaborative effort between the ATO and flight standards personnel, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and industry stakeholders. Concurrent with climb via, FAA also implemented expanded guidance on speed adjustment phraseology. FAA implemented the new phraseology in FAA Order 7110.65V.